Free to Serve Page 2

  Lilly nodded again, with a little more emphasis this time, making Gabriella smile. She hoped her answer encouraged Lilly. It did good for a child to have something positive to look forward to, and with any luck, her future husband would be kind and caring—willing to make a small concession for a child.

  The door creaked when it opened, causing both of them to turn. Gabriella sucked in a deep breath. She recognized the sheriff and the preacher, Pastor Mire, but the tall, slender, handsome man with a beard was nothing like the normal gentlemen she’d entertained over the years. In a suit and vest, he dressed nicer than the average farmer, rancher or gunman. Sheriff Daniels had assured her none of the men in the program were serious offenders, so that ruled out him being a gunman. Maybe he was not her potential husband, perhaps a marshal, or even a judge. A tinge of disappointment descended upon her like a cloudy sky. Lady Luck hadn’t favored her in life—there was no reason for her to start now.

  They stopped when they reached the front of the church, where Gabriella and Lilly sat in the pew. She looked up at the men, afraid to stand for fear her legs would give out. Hopefully the sheriff hadn’t taken it upon himself to contact someone concerning Lilly. What if they tried to take her away? She gripped Lilly’s hand tighter.

  “Miss Emerson, this is Sawyer Stephenson,” Sheriff Daniels said. “He is one of the men in the program whom I spoke with you concerning.”

  “Gabriella, please.” She rose and shook Sawyer’s hand, noting he held a small, stuffed doll in his other hand. A smile spread across her lips at the realization that he had the forethought to consider Lilly. The feel of his flesh against hers told her he’d worked some with his hands, but not enough to be overly calloused—which left her perplexed. Dare she ask his profession? She thought better of it because he may ask hers in return. Releasing his hand, she turned to acknowledge her young charge’s presence. “This is Lilly.”

  “It is a pleasure to meet both of you.” Sawyer glanced from her down to where Lilly was seated.

  Lilly’s eyes briefly met his before they traveled down to the toy in his hands. “Do you have children?”

  “No, not yet.” He laughed and knelt down in front of her. “Pastor Mire was kind enough to give me the dolly for you.” Sawyer handed it to Lilly. “Promise me you will take care of her for me, will you?”

  Nodding, Lilly hugged the doll to her chest. “Can I call her Molly?”

  “Molly sounds like a very good name.” Sawyer ran his finger across Molly’s hair. “She even has brown hair like you.”

  “She needs a new mommy, and I can be her mommy,” Lilly said, adjusting the dress on the doll in her lap. “Will you be her daddy? She never had one before.”

  “If she wants me to.”

  Two small eyes slowly raised to meet Sawyer’s gaze. “Molly said she’d like that a lot.”

  “That makes me very happy.” Sawyer smiled and stood.

  “Lilly, would you mind waiting outside with me while Pastor Mire talks with Miss Gabriella and Mr. Sawyer?” The sheriff looked at the pastor. “You know where to find me if you need me.”

  Getting up from the pew with Molly clutched close to her body, Lilly followed Sheriff Daniels outside.

  Gabriella smiled. Lilly needed to be a child and do what children do—play, not worry about strange men coming and going. She hadn’t realized until today how much Lilly missed having a pa around. Calvin had been the closest thing to a father figure, and that wasn’t saying much. Children needed a real family and a real home.

  “May I have a seat?” Sawyer asked.

  She glanced up, then followed his gaze to the now vacant spot beside her. “Yes, please do.”

  Sawyer sat down, leaving a couple feet between them, making Gabriella chuckle to herself. She hadn’t thought him to be the reserved type because he’d been anything but timid when he was introduced to them. He also appeared to have experience around children, which left her quite perplexed.

  Pastor Mire cleared his throat, drawing both of their attention. “Sheriff Daniels asked me to address any concerns the two of you may have, given…” He paused and expelled a deep breath. “There’s really no delicate way to put this. Given your very different backgrounds.”

  In her heart, Gabriella knew it was an inevitable conversation. Perhaps reminding Sawyer of what led him to this predicament would help him to see beyond her past, especially if she was willing to overlook his. “I must admit, I hadn’t thought to ask the sheriff what Mr. Stephenson was arrested for, but I am sure we can both put our pasts behind us and make a better future for Lilly’s sake.”

  “She is a charming young lady.” Sawyer’s tone was soft, calming. “My main concern is, if her mother comes back, I need assurance that you will continue to honor the agreement and not revert back to your previous lifestyle.”

  Her jaw dropped as she stared at him. It took a moment to collect herself, and not respond in anger. He had a right to voice his concern. Gabriella hadn’t really considered that Lilly’s mother might come back, given it’d been so long already.

  Sawyer eyed her warily.

  “I assure you, you needn’t be concerned.” Gabriella lifted her chin. “I will honor our agreement, no matter what the circumstances, provided you do not do anything to end up in prison again.”

  To her surprise, he chuckled. “Definitely not my finest moment. I’ve done some soul-searching and praying. I promise you, and God, that I will only do what is right according to the law.”

  He smiled at her and her heart skipped a beat.

  “The only problem I see is, given that the contract states we must reside within fifteen miles of town for six months, I will have to find some kind of work to provide for our family since I will not be able to resume my preaching position.”

  “Your what?” Had she heard him right? “You’re a preacher?”

  When he nodded, a lump formed in her throat. Gabriella fanned her face, feeling unusually warm.

  “I take it Sheriff Daniels didn’t mention it when the two of you spoke?”

  “No.” Her reply sounded like more of a high, pitched squeak. He was a preacher. A pastor. Someone who went around telling people not to go into saloons or become involved with women—like her. Not that she wanted to be like her. She’d only become that person out of desperation. Something she wanted to avoid happening to Lilly.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Sawyer nearly laughed at the expression on his bride-to-be’s face when she found out he was a preacher. No doubt his own face had mirrored the same look when he’d learned of her previous experience. He sobered at the thought of her truly converting, which didn’t seem likely given her adverse reaction.

  He reminded himself right now she needed him as much as he needed her, whether or not either of them liked the idea of being joined in matrimony.

  “While this arrangement may be a little bit unusual,” Sawyer said, “it benefits both of us to make concessions, not only for our own sake, but also for Lilly’s.”

  Gabriella’s lips pursed. While she might not be willing to change for herself, she cared about the little girl, that much he knew for sure, and that alone might motivate her to change.

  “My main concern is if her mother should return, are you still willing to continue on with the agreement?” Sawyer pressed on because his future was dependent on her honest answer. “As you know, I’m a preacher and believe marriage should be until death. Per the agreement for the program, I do not wish to end up back in prison solely because you decided the program was no longer beneficial to you.”

  She pressed her hand against her chest, clearly taken aback by his suggestion. At that moment, he would have thought her to be any normal woman, sitting in church, reacting to something she found offensive—at least she could be offended, and ladylike.

  “I assure you I’m not that way. When I make an agreement, I honor the agreement.” The conviction in her voice and sincerity in her eyes as she stared at him straight on without flinching or looking away, gave him reassurance. People who were not being truthful tended to squirm or look away when confronted. That was something he’d observed on numerous times during sermons. A guilty conscience was hard to mask. “Likewise, I assume I can trust you to remain committed to the agreement, even after the six month period is up?”

  Smiling, he nodded. “You can trust me.”

  Her head tilted to the side and she looked at him somewhat strangely. “Since we’re being truthful, if you don’t mind my asking, what law did you break?”

  Swallowing, he took a deep breath before confessing. “A rich and powerful man controlled the town I ministered in, and he didn’t have a repentant heart.” Sawyer shrugged. “Too many people were needy and he controlled what goods came into town.” He shrugged. “I found ways around him, collected donations, paid some of the same men bringing in his supplies to bring back food and stuff that I distributed to people in my congregation. Since he controlled the law, he had me arrested and claimed I stole from him. Even though the items were paid for, in his eyes, I took his business away.”

  “So you really didn’t do anything wrong.” Gabriella frowned.

  “Besides hitting him?” Sawyer laughed when her eyes widened. “I could have handled things better, maybe talked to him to try to resolve the problem, or even prayed about the situation instead of taking matters into my own hands. No one likes their authority undermined, not even God.” As he spoke, it reminded him of a story from the Bible. “That’s kind of how Jonah ended up in the belly of a whale—he didn’t want to preach to the people because he knew they would repent and he didn’t think God should forgive them. I reckon I was a bit like that, I didn’t give him a chance to change and now because of my actions, that may never happen.”

  “I’m sorry those things happened to you,” Gabriella said. Her eyes held compassion. “Sometimes we don’t always react the way we think we will, or our circumstances force us to do things we’re not always proud of.” Sadness filled her eyes, wrenching his gut. He hadn’t really thought about what had caused her to make certain life choices, and it sounded like she harbored her own regrets.

  “Perhaps this program is the perfect opportunity to give us all a chance to start over.” Sawyer held the gaze of her warm, brown eyes. Had he not known she worked in a saloon before, he would have never guessed by looking at her. She was even prettier than any of the women he’d encountered in the same profession. To her credit, she didn’t use her appearance to lure or tempt him, something he liked to think was because of the type of person she was and not the fact that he was a preacher. Was being in the past, and even he didn’t know what his future held. “It looks like I may have the opportunity to find a new line of work, given my predicament and the fact that there is little chance that I can find a church to serve at within fifteen miles of Mucksbe.”

  Pastor Mire cleared his throat and they both turned to look at him. Sawyer had forgotten the pastor was still there since he’d remained quiet and Sawyer’s focus had been fixated on Gabriella’s reactions.

  “Actually,” Pastor Mire said. “I have been offered a position out of state, closer to my ailing mother, and I would like to take it, which would leave my position here available.” When neither of them said anything, the pastor continued to explain. “I feel you have shown a repentant heart for your previous actions, and if you can assure me that you will pray about things before reacting in the future, then I will recommend you as my new replacement to the congregation. In the meantime, after you are married, you can stay in the quarters behind the church. There are two bedrooms, so room for Lilly as well. Is that of interest to you?”

  Sawyer nodded. What could he say? He’d been given another chance, and God had even seen fit to provide a roof over their heads. When he glanced at Gabriella, he saw the apprehension in her wide eyes. He reached over and took her hand in his, giving it a slight squeeze.

  “Then it’s settled,” Pastor Mire announced. “I’ll stay on for a few weeks to get you both settled in. During that time, I’ll take you around to meet people in town.”

  “What do you think we should tell people about how we met?” Gabriella looked hesitantly from Sawyer to Pastor Mire. “It would be best if they didn’t know about my past.”

  “True,” Pastor Mire agreed. “But as the Bible says, he who is without sin, let him cast the first stone, and it also says Jesus was the only man to never sin.”

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Crickets chirped in the distance, echoing their nightly song as the moonlight shone through the bedroom window, casting a glow across Lilly. Not whom Gabriella expected to be sleeping with on her wedding night. She laughed, quietly thinking about the situation. Sawyer was an honorable and caring man. He suggested that Gabriella room with Lilly so that she wouldn’t be scared, and because he wanted them to build a real marriage, not one based on physical attraction. It was a charming change from the men she’d known over the years.

  For the first time since her parents’ deaths ten years ago, Gabriella felt a twinge of anticipation for her future. The Freedom Bride program and Sawyer had given her a chance to start over and live a real life—one her parents would have approved of if they were alive. They may have preferred Gabriella had a wedding ceremony with all their family and friends, but if there was any family, Gabriella had no way to find them. Her only real friend consisted of Sadie, who’d disappeared, leaving nothing more than a letter—and her own daughter—behind.

  Gabriella turned on her side and gently brushed the tousled hair from Lilly’s face. Her heart ached for the young girl. She knew from personal experience what it was like to not have parents—at least Lilly could hold on to hope that she may see her mother again one day. With any luck, by the time Lilly realized it wasn’t likely, her new life will have given her enough pleasant memories that she wouldn’t want to look back to the past. Lilly’s childhood hadn’t been normal, like Gabriella’s.

  “God, I don’t really know you, or even if you’re listening, but if you are,” Gabriella whispered, “help me to be a good Ma to Lilly, and help me to make Sawyer proud. I can’t thank you enough for giving me and Lilly a chance.” Gabriella closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.

  ♥ ♥ ♥

  Pouncing on the bed startled her. Gabriella’s eyes fluttered, too heavy to open. Catching a glimpse of Lilly bouncing up and down, Gabriella rolled over, scrunching the pillow over her head. “Five more minutes—just five.”

  “Breakfast will be late and Pastor Mire is joining us,” Lilly said.

  Realizing that the pastor was probably already there struck Gabriella. Her eyes flew open and she shot out of bed. She scrambled to get ready, noticing that Lilly had already dressed.

  “I can’t believe they expect me to make breakfast for them,” she muttered while lacing her brown boots.

  “You don’t have to cook.” Lilly’s voice sounded cheerful. “Pa already started breakfast, and it’s almost done.”

  Pa? Was she hearing things? Gabriella’s bewilderment may have been because she was tired. She rubbed her eyes, as if that would clear the fogginess in her mind. “Did you say, Pa?”

  Cowering on the edge of the bed, Lilly fidgeted with Molly’s dress, avoiding eye contact with Gabriella. “I ain’t ever had one and since you and Mister Sawyer got married, he said I could call him Pa.”

  It sounded peculiar to Gabriella to hear Lilly refer to him as her father. “He just came out and said that to you?”

  Lilly looked at her from under her lashes and slowly shook her head. “I asked him if I could. Is that all right?”

  “I… I guess so, if he doesn’t care.” At this point, it wasn’t likely that Sadie would come back. If she did, her return could make things awkward with Lilly calling her Ma and Sawyer Pa. Especially since Sawyer was Gabriella’s husband. A twinge of jealousy assailed her. Lilly had quickly bonded with Sawyer, but then again, she never knew her father. Gabriella needed to think of how other people would react to the things they said or did. Townsfolk might also find it odd if they heard Lilly refer to her by her given name. “Perhaps it would be best if you called me Ma too, since he is my husband now.”

  Lilly smiled and scurried closer, giving her a hug. Gabriella wasn’t accustomed to having maternal instincts, or being choked by her emotions. She hugged the child a moment longer and rose from the bed, quickly dressing. “We best be getting to breakfast or it will be cold.”

  Pastor Mire smiled and stood when they came into the room. “Good morning, ladies.”

  “Good morning.” Gabriella’s cheeks warmed. She didn’t fancy early mornings, which was obviously something that would have to change—even more quickly than she could have anticipated. Be polite and ladylike, she reminded herself, like you see other women do. “To what do we owe this unexpected pleasure?”

  From the corner of her eye, she saw Sawyer pause and glance at her momentarily before turning back to the stove. She dared not stare back, even though something about a man standing at a stove making breakfast sent her heart aflutter. Taking a seat at the small table, she folded her hands in her lap. Pastor Mire sat back down, and Lilly took a seat as well.

  “I made arrangements with the mercantile to deliver a few supplies.” Pastor Mire leaned his arms against the table, clasping his hands in front of him. “Since I’m taking Sawyer around to meet people tomorrow, I thought it might be nice if you could make some pies or bread, something we could take and give out to those we visit.”

  “Oh.” What else could she say? He’d already taken the liberty of getting the supplies, so it didn’t sound like he expected her to object.

  Her husband carried two plates to the table and laid one in front of Lilly and the other in front of their guest, clamping a hand on the pastor’s shoulder. “Considering we were just married yesterday and are both new to the area, I think my wife and daughter might prefer a day of sightseeing. Do you think we could wait until Friday to visit the locals?”